Updates on Policing Demands
We are happy to report that we have heard from:
- Chief Smythe of Burlington PD, Ian Baltutis (mayor) (336) 222-5020 , and office of the City Manager Hardin Watkins (336-222-5022)- have met with AAFC about some initial movements, and will continue to meet monthly to address the demands. The conversations have currently included employee policy language around racial discrimination for all City of Burlington and Police personnel, policies and practices around sensitivity training, instatement of community review boards, and identifying zoning practices in Burlington. Burlington is in the process of formalizing a Community Review Board and needs FEEDBACK! You can see the proposed charter here and follow feedback recommendations.
- Assistant Chief Cole of Graham PD sent us departmental/CALEA reports. We have met with her team and City Leadership around Use of Force and are in discussions about how to make that policy language more clear and transparent to the community they serve. Future meetings will be held monthly with focused conversations around our 13 Demands.
- Elon PD - Kelly Blackwelder - very detailed response with openness to come together
- Gibsonville PD - Ron Parrish - response with examples, but no request for a meeting
- Amy Galey (336) 380-8038 - denied any responsibility the County Commissioners has regarding police policies while also saying that they only provide budget approval for the Sheriff.
- Steve Carter, County Commissioner, has directed us to the Aug 3rd Commissioners Meeting where Sheriff Johnson gave a presentation on how the Sheriff's Department is "effectively" meeting related demands put out by various community groups. We will respond with acknowledgment and a continued request to meet.
- Kathy Hykes - returned the email and would not address the letter stating that she did not know who it was from (all of our names are listed).
- Mebane PD -Terrence Caldwell - detailed response with current practices and open to a meeting.
- Yvonne Maizland responded to a community member asking for more background on AAFC since she does "NOT bow to mobs of any kind." You can also hear her public comment near the end of the Aug 3rd County Commissioners meeting.
- Alamance County Sheriff - Terry Johnson
- Alamance County Commissioners -
- Rick Gunn - NC Senator
- Dennis Riddell - NC House
- Stephen Ross - NC House
- City of Burlington
- City of Mebane
- Ed Hook (mayor), Jill Auditori (mayor pro tem), SeanEwing, Everette Greene, Patty Phillipps, Tim Bradley
- City of Elon
- Jerry Tolley (mayor) , Davis Montgomery (mayor pro temp) , Mark Greene, Monti Allison, J. Quinn Ray , Emily Sharpe
- City of Graham (336) 570-6700
- Jerry Peterman (mayor) (336)516-6964, J Pritchard (appears to be on leave), D Sperry
- City of Gibsonville
- Leonard Williams (mayor), Mark Shephard (mayor pro tem), Shannon O'toole, Clarence Owen, Ken Pleasants,
- Alamance County Chamber of Commerce
- Sean Boone (DA) 336-570-5210
How you can use your voice
Tell your local leaders and police chiefs that you demand a response. Tell them you want to know what they are doing to keep ALL of Alamance safe and treated fairly. Tell them that you demand accountability. Copy the below script and click on an above leader, paste the script in the email, and send away! Don't forget to fill out a Report-back form to let us know that we can hold them accountable.
Call Script
Hello, ______. My name is ______ and I am a resident of _______. I am calling in support of the police reform policies put forward by Alamance Agents for Change. I support racial equity in our county and I believe there are common sense changes we can make in the criminal justice system to improve safety for everyone in our community. I understand that the leaders of Alamance Agents for Change contacted you requesting a meeting. Have you met with them yet?
Email Script to Officials Who Have NOT Met with AAFC
Dear ____________,
My name is ________ and I am a resident of ________. I am writing in support of the police reform policies put forward by Alamance Agents of Change (included below). I support racial equity in our county, and I believe there are common sense changes we can make to improve safety for everyone in our community.
I understand that you have not yet met with the leaders of AAFC. I urge you to respond to their letter from June 17th, and meet with them as soon as possible. As our (elected official / law enforcement official), it is necessary that you implement these policy reforms thoroughly and expeditiously. Can I count on your support?
AAFC Demands for Police Reform:
Hello, ______. My name is ______ and I am a resident of _______. I am calling in support of the police reform policies put forward by Alamance Agents for Change. I support racial equity in our county and I believe there are common sense changes we can make in the criminal justice system to improve safety for everyone in our community. I understand that the leaders of Alamance Agents for Change contacted you requesting a meeting. Have you met with them yet?
- If, yes: Thank you for taking this important step in working for these changes. Can I count on you to continue working to implement these policies thoroughly?
- If, no: I strongly urge you to meet with these leaders and take these policy changes seriously. We will continue working for change as long as it takes.
Email Script to Officials Who Have NOT Met with AAFC
Dear ____________,
My name is ________ and I am a resident of ________. I am writing in support of the police reform policies put forward by Alamance Agents of Change (included below). I support racial equity in our county, and I believe there are common sense changes we can make to improve safety for everyone in our community.
I understand that you have not yet met with the leaders of AAFC. I urge you to respond to their letter from June 17th, and meet with them as soon as possible. As our (elected official / law enforcement official), it is necessary that you implement these policy reforms thoroughly and expeditiously. Can I count on your support?
AAFC Demands for Police Reform:
- Sensitivity training for all members of law enforcement.
- Enact the Open Records Act.
- Removal of all members of law enforcement with any history of racial, sexual, and/or homophobic misconduct, demonstrated xenophobia, transphobia or other discriminatory behavior.
- Immediate removal for membership in hate groups (e.g. ACTBAC, KKK, Proud Boys, etc.) or use of language that incites racial or gender violence.
- Ban the use of hog ties, knee holds, and choke/carotid holds.*
- Require officers stop, or attempt to stop, another officer when force is being inappropriately applied or is no longer required.*
- Ban no-knock warrants.*
- The Use of Force Continuum for any police department in the county must ensure that there are at least 6 levels of steps, with clear rules on de-escalation including: verbal warning before discharging a weapon, and banning shooting at moving vehicles.
- Mandatory reporting to the FBI database for all use-of-force events resulting in death.
- Deny recertification of credentials for law enforcement members if determined that their use of excessive and/or deadly force was unwarranted by local, state or federal guidelines.
- Release court-ordered body camera footage within 72 hours of a police-involved death or injury and ensure footage is used for accountability.
- Mandatory drug tests for officers any time there is a weapon discharged.
- Independent investigations of every law enforcement member involved shooting and independent autopsy for police-involved death.
- Recruitment and implementation of the county’s Community Review Board to hold police departments accountable and to build public trust.